The big play.

It can either hurt a football team if you surrender it, or it can help a team if you can execute it.

Unfortunately, for Panther Valley on Friday night against Schuylkill League Football Division 2 opponent Mahanoy Area, giving up the big play came early and often. The Bears were able to come up with multiple big plays throughout the first quarter that got them out to a quick 26-point lead and they never looked back, defeating the Panthers 40-6.

The Bears (5-4, 2-2 SLF D2) wasted no time putting their foot on the gas pedal in this one, setting the tone early on their first play from scrimmage in the game with a 44-yard hook-up between quarterback Matt Lewandowski and Tyler Clewell, which took them down to the Panthers 25-yard line. Four plays later Lewandowski slithered in from 12 yards out to gain a quick 7-0 advantage.

“In that first quarter we started out strong and we were able to take advantage of some things we saw coming in that we thought we could get some big plays on,” said Mahanoy Area head coach Dave Holman. “We were also able to spread the ball around and we got all of our playmakers some touches in the first quarter and they made great plays. I’m really happy with what our skill players were able to do tonight.”

After Mahanoy’s first successful drive, three more would follow. In fact, the Bears would score on their next three possessions, stretching their lead to 26-0 with 3:57 still remaining in the first quarter. A MJ Terry 15-yard rushing score and two touchdowns from Danny Lawrence — one rushing and one coming off a 42-yard pass from Lewandowski — put the game out of reach early for the Panthers.

“Mahanoy came in here and they did what we knew they could do if we didn’t execute defensively,” said Panther Valley head coach Scott Price. “They were able to get the edge on us and we didn’t make the plays that we needed to make to stop them.

“We’re a young football team and we’re still learning and progressing, and our kids fought tonight, we just have to get to work this week and get better.”

The Bears offense was good, but their defense was arguably better. Besides, giving up a late 40-yard touchdown to Jonathan Hafer in the fourth quarter when the contest was well in hand, Mahanoy gave up just 83 yards rushing at 3.6 yards per carry. .

The Bears added two more scores on Terry short yardage runs in the second and third quarter to extend their lead to 40 before Hafer scored late in the fourth for the Panthers (3-6, 1-3) with twenty seconds remaining.

“I just think our kids get down on themselves and lose confidence and I just want them to know that they’re a better football team than how they performed tonight,” said Price. “We have some talented guys, we just need to play with more confidence.”

BIG ONES

… In the first quarter alone, the Bears had plays of 44, 31, and 42 yards and had a total of eight plays that were 10 yards or longer.

THE BIG LEWANDOWSKI

… Lewandowski rushed for 78 yards, threw for 88 more and time and time again fooled defenders in the Bears’ triple option offense.